AFX AOC Suspended
 

Not sure if this is old news but AFX have just had their AOC suspended.... .. .I think the industry is alot safer without chaps like PB!

Any details?

Do the CAA publish this sort of thing in an open format? If so, where?

CAA says not suspended ??!!

Going, Going.... Gone. No cash! ! The convoy is already winging its way down the M3 to Bournmouth.. .. .TBE.

Who's AFX? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />

Allthenines. .. .Air Freight Express. 747-200's between US and Heathrow. Maybe some other stuff.

Does anybody have any good info on this company, ie specific routes, number of employees, money behind the operation, key names etc etc I would be particularly interested to know if their AOC is suspended or has actually been withdrawn. .. .tks in anticipation. .. .ps have also copied same to Freight Forum. . . . <small>[ 21 March 2002, 10:59: Message edited by: s.lindburgh ]</small>

S lindbergh. .Go here. .<a href="http://www.afx-747.com/" target="_blank">http://www.afx-747.com/</a>. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

non sched tks for web site, rather tatty unless u want to buy 3 mini mouse mats and get 1 absoloutly free!!!!! I will keep trawling.. .. .cheers. .lindburgh

Lindburgh. .. .Well, Philip Bowles started it up, Michael Chowdry tried to buy it at one time, they had runs to the Middle East and Far East as well as the US and they operated 3 747-200's. Sorry you didn't like the web site. If you hurry you could get the last of those limited edition mugs. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">Google is a wonderful thing </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">

non sched. .. .Not your fault their web site is cheap and nasty.. .Seriously though I'm particularly interested as to why it was not a viable operation and as to where it went wrong. I was always surprised that they could operate out of LHR given the cost/regulatory hurdles. Always thought there was more to this operation than at first met the eye, seemingly it was just badly managed. Interested to hear they operated 3 a/c thought it was only 2, perhaps you could shed more light on that together with the answer to who is Michael Chowdry.. .. .Once again tks. .cheers. .lindburgh

I understand the AOC is only suspended - not actually revoked. . .. .The CAA have apparently given AFX a number of chances to sort themselves out but each time they've failed to do so - on one occasion Bowles didn't even bother turing up for a meeting at Aviation House!!!. .. .From what I've heard around LHR is the engineering side of things is somewhat of a hazard - one of the A/c checks was done in China !!! . .. .Engine monitoring from the flight deck is fine with the usual note making of T's & P's - but all these were discovered just stacked in a cupboard, no-one had bothered to enter them anywhere so no-one has any idea whats happening under those cowlings - I wonder what the engine owners think about that one (assuming they are leased).. .. .Sad news for the 120 staff they employ but I can't help thinking the industry is better off without them..

Lindburgh. .The info about three A/C I gleaned from a press release shown below. Michael Chowdry started Atlas Air in the US and died a while back in an airplane crash. He was looking for a UK AOC when he offered to buy AFX and eventually found one elsewhere. It seems AFX would have been better off if they'd accepted his offer. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> . .. .British cargo airline Air Freight Express (AFX) has applied with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate flights to a new range of destinations including Moscow, Beirut, Tripoli, Bangkok, Beijing, Karachi, Shanghai, Auckland, Fiji, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Tahiti, plus points in North and South America. AFX operates two B747-200 freighters and will be acquiring a third by mid-November.. . </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">A man's got to know his limitations </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">

non sched. .. .Many tks for info. Would you happen to know why Chowdry wanted a uk aoc, or indeed a uk based/registered operation? Also why his offer was turned down ?. .. .Honiley, all a bit serious if you ask me. . .. .cheers. .lindburgh

Honily (isnt that a waypont 60 mls south of MAN?. .What is wrong with maintenance in China? The Worlds No2 Airline has it's maint done there and it looks good to me.

Ditto, Honiley is obviously talking out of his proverbially.

2 B747-245F G-GAFX, G-INTL. Understand GAFX leased from Boeing, INTL owned by AFX.

One at LHR yesterday by BMI's Maintenance Hangar - didn't seem to be active.

Surely, those four 'Mini Mouse Mats' are drinks coasters????? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

I have heard from reliable sources that AFX has been placed in Administration. It is unlikely to recover from this - the crews did not get paid last month and are rapidly moving elsewhere.

Heard about an employee buy-out yesterday on the grapevine. Anyone heard that?

Honiley, what's wrong with doing maintenance in China? Cathay Pacific has an excellent maintenance base in Xiamen and have all their heavy maintenance letter checks done there on their own aircraft.. . . . <small>[ 24 March 2002, 06:20: Message edited by: HotDog ]</small>

Oh for gods sake!. .. .I'm not knocking Chinese Aircraft maint. quality.. .. .Since when has a Uk operator/Uk CAA AOC holder had its maint. done in China - thats what i'm getting at.. .. .FLS at STN. .BA at LGW/LHR - all these companies are more than familiar with a B747!!!

Yes, but twice as expensive!

TAECO in Xiamen China is part owned by Boeing and have a great reputation for B747 Freighter conversions and B747 maintenance. . .Check out their other British customer:. .. .<a href="http://www.taeco.com/subpages/customers.htm" target="_blank">http://www.taeco.com/subpages/customers.htm</a>

G-GAFX has been in storage at MSE (London Manston) since December.

Thanks all, so to conclude 1 x a/c @lhr, 1 x a/c @mse, both doing apparently nothing. Flight crews desserting a sinking ship and company more than likely in admin. mmmmmmmmhhhhhhh still would like to know about their aoc though.. .. .tks in advance. .cheers. .lindburgh

Hi Honiley,. .. .I think you are right they should have done maintenance in the UK and rather that 747s they should have flown tridents <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . .. .Isn't the beauty of an international industry like aviation the people with an insular way of thinking...

Well, whatever!!!!. .. .The aircraft at manston is a "Christmas Tree" to supply parts for the other aircraft by the way.... .. .I understand the AOC is still in place, due to the company going into administration...

AFX has had maintenance done in many places....and usually not paid the bill....so next time they go elsewhere....and don't pay the bill. There are not many places left they can go anymore...

Anyone still interested in Atlas?. .See <a href="http://www.atlasair.com/" target="_blank">http://www.atlasair.com/</a>. .The great cargo success story in recent years based on Michael Choudry's vision of wrapping up all the good B747 capacity so everyone had to go to him for capacity to expand.. .Worked well but going through a rough patch at the moment. Aren't we all?. .Rgds. .Lybid. .. .PS For those who do not know, Mr Choudry unfortunately flew his L39 into the ground a while ago.. . . . <small>[ 24 March 2002, 23:15: Message edited by: Lybid ]</small>

The rumours of going into administration are just that....rumours.. .. .Is there someone out there with an axe to grind? . .. .Experience tells me that PPrune Administrator has usually pulled the plug by now. This thread has rumbled on for a little while without any apparent substance.. .. .Put up or shut up!!!. .. ."If life were only bizjets"

It seems Executive Mandate has got it wrong.AFX went into administration on friday and all staff were made redundant,this is a fact not a rumour.. .Best wishes to all the good people who worked for AFX.As far as this thread having run its course I dont think so,not by a long chalk.And yes I do have an axe to grind !!!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" />

Go grind it, pc - that's what the forum's here for!!

PC.....Correct. .. .Administrator appointed but they hope to continue flying...... .. .What are their chances?. .. .Let us know!!

Executive Mandate.I hope AFX can keep flying but dont hold out much hope.Maybe someone from AFX so called management might care to comment ????? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />

Can anybody tell me if AFX did much flying for CLX. If so any ideas as to how many hours per month say. Also I'd be interested to know the make up of the AFX management team.. .. .cheers. .lindburgh

Lindburgh.Yes AFX did fly for CLX dont know how many hours per month,but quite a number I would guess.As far as the management team is conerned there wasnt one PJB made all the management decisions,it was really a one man band.Hope this is of some use to you.

Asking a lot of questions Lindburgh, I wonder why?. .. .edited for spelling. . . . <small>[ 26 March 2002, 12:54: Message edited by: CargoRat2 ]</small>